Museum Open House

The first of three open house's to celebrate the Smithsonian Institution's exhibit at the Museum of the San Rafael was held on June 5. Key Ingredients, the exhibit sponsored by the Utah Humanities Council, explores American by food.

Jan Petersen, museum director, welcomed everyone in attendance to view the exhibit which demonstrates how food and the innovations in its handling have played an immense role on the culture of America. The Museum of the San Rafael is the first stop on a six rural museum visit to Utah for the display. It will be in Castle Dale until June 27.

Annie Hatch, Mike Christensen and Judy Busk were on hand representing the Utah Humanitites Council. Hatch related a story about a sourdough starter which had been in her family for years, since her grandmother's time. Her mother cherished the starter and on special occasions, would make biscuits or pancakes using the starter. A house guest from Germany decided to do some cleaning for the family and cleaned out the refrigerator. The visitor threw away this "gooey looking stuff" and Hatch's mother cried for days. Some years later, the family discovered a cousin had a starter from the grandmother's starter and were able to replace the original starter that had been lost.

Hatch said, "Food is the one thing that connects all periods in history. It defines who we are as people and helps us to celebrate that history."

Busk told the group "These historical displays are some folks childhood. They remember the time from which these things were taken."

Christensen said, "Food is so much than sustenance, it says who we are and where we've come from."

The Huntington Mens Glee Club entertained the audience with four songs from the cowboy era, Home on the Range, Empty Saddles, Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Cool, Cool Water.

Kent Petersen said, "Concerning food in Emery County, probably the one that has had the biggest impact on Emery County is the beef industry. Emery County produces good beef." He went on to give a history of cattle drives in the United States and how those years effected the the cattle industry here in Emery County. He also told several stories of the young men who first brought cows onto this side of the mountain to spend the winters.

The open house was capped off with Dutch Oven stew and baking powder biscuits being served to the attendees.